Locals celebrate, share Native American heritage

The Native American community might be small, but it is not lonely.

The Native American Community Center of Bloomington is a fairly new nonprofit organization founded by Rebecca Riall, Laura Reagan, Del Criscenzo and Marilyn Cleveland.

“We were founded two years ago, and we just got a building this year,” said Reagan, the historian of the NACC.

Before the NACC received its home, the founders used local coffeehouses for meetings and events. Now the group resides on the corner of 14th and Dunn streets under the Windfall Dancers, Inc. Studio.

“We used coffeehouses trying to get the ball rolling with things before we ... filed to be an official nonprofit organization,” Reagan said.

The NACC’s mission is to help Native Americans from southern Indiana feel at home and part of a thriving community.

“My big thing that is important to me is helping people realize that native people are still around,” Reagan said. “We’re not just people in history books. We are living people who drive cars and still practice religious beliefs.”

Reagan, who is Lipan Apache, said her tribe started out in southern Texas and northern Mexico.

Her family moved to Indiana, and she was born and raised in Indianapolis.

As a nonprofit organization, the NACC tries its best to raise awareness and money to help plan events and fundraisers.

The NACC will have its own “village” this year at October’s Bloomington Multicutural Expo.

“We have always been a part of the International Village at the Multicutural Expo,” said Criscenzo, volunteer research manager and treasurer. “But starting for the first time, we have our own Native American village this year, so we’re pretty excited.”

Criscenzo is originally from France but has an interest in Native American culture. Upon arriving at IU, she got involved with a Native American student group on campus.

“I became friends with some of the members, and we decided there was a need for a community center,” Criscenzo said.

Criscenzo said the NACC is a place for both Native Americans and non-Native Americans to gather.

“We had a craft night where three or four ladies came in to work on some crafts and shared their life stories,” Criscenzo said. “We also have a lot of resources that non-Native Americans can access at our office to educate themselves.”

The NACC has many opportunities for people to volunteer. Board member positions last for two years, and the election for new board members will be coming up soon.

“We do have requirements that two-thirds of the board members need to be Native American,” Criscenzo said. “Everybody is welcome to run for a board position or even a committee chair member. The positions that have to be filled are director, treasurer, elder and secretary.”

Currently, the main goal for the NACC is to remain financially stable.

“We do have an office, and we have to pay rent,” Criscenzo said. “We are going to open a gift shop up in September so people can purchase Native art and jewelry from us.”

The NACC will be holding a bake sale at 3 p.m. Friday outside of Walmart. In addition to baked goods, jewelry will be available for sale.

“(Native Americans) are here,” Criscenzo said. “It’s just a matter of being visible.”